School Attendance

Minors must attend school full-time until the last day of the session in the school year in which the minor turns sixteen. School years run July 1 to June 30. A community can require minors who do not work to attend school full-time until the last day of session in the school year in which the minor turns 17. High school graduates, regardless of age, do not have to continue attending school. However, they must give their employer a Full-time Employment Certificate until they reach their 18th birthday.

Minimum Age For Employment

There are certain exceptions to these rules. Those exceptions are subject to the following employment certification rules:

Minors not yet 14 may not be employed at any time:

Not after school

Not during vacation

Minors 14 and 15 years old may work after school hours and during vacations, but not in factory work

Minors 14 and 15 years old may:

Do delivery and clerical work in any enclosed office of a factory

Work in:

Dry cleaning

Tailor

Shoe repair

Similar service stores

Minors 16 and 17 years of age, if not attending school, may work full time throughout the year

Minors 16 and 17 years of age may work in factories if the work they perform is NOT listed as a Prohibited Occupation.